Creative Halloween Costumes

Some of the funniest—and cheapest—Halloween costumes I’ve ever seen are actually archived in my own family albums, those that my mother has put together over the years. My mom was very creative in helping four kids come up with cheap, interesting Halloween costumes, but her best innovation was the year that she dressed up as a man and my dad as a woman.

Cross-dressers for Halloween. My dad is on the left and my mom is on the right. (Obviously.) 1976 | Source

Dress up as the Opposite Sex

The most creative things my parents ever did in my eyes was to cross-dress on Halloween. What a couple they made!

There’s my dad, a quiet man, who agreed to put on make-up, wear a wig, don a skirt, and stuff himself to make quite an impressive bosom. And my lovely mother, who put on flannel, pulled back her long hair with my dad's hunting cap, attached hair to her chin and chest, and penciled on a somewhat manly little mustache.

This was funny, funny stuff to a kid. Here we have very cheap costumes, which is appreciated by the adults, of course, in saving money. But what is very appreciative to kids is the parents going all out like Mom and Dad did that year. And can I just say that I adore that look on my dad's face!

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Cheap Costumes for Kids

The year of the "cross-dressing," the costumes for us kids weren't quite as creative, perhaps due to my mom having spent so much time on her and my dad. I mean, seriously...I can't imagine my dad sitting for a makeup session. haha. So here we are with my youngest brother in a mere plastic mask as Woody Woodpecker. Not too creative there. My next brother is in a somewhat scary--yet plain plastic--ghost mask. I have on my "Indian" (as we would say back then instead of "Native American" mask. Braided hair and a poncho complete the outfit. Then my older brother has a pirate mask. I do remember when those plastic masks were handy and plentiful, though not so creative.

The Lone Ranger, Ghost, Native American, Hobo | Source

Creative Homemade Halloween Costumes for Kids

Now, let’s look at a particular year that we all had creative, extensive homemade Halloween costumes. I grew up in a small town, complete with dirt roads and no Wal-Mart, so we weren’t afraid to walk around the whole town, as we knew every house. So Halloween was a big deal, as the four of us kids made quite a haul.

In this picture, you can see me (the only girl) and my three brothers all decked out in homemade costumes. My older brother, on the left, is cut off a bit, but look at his Lone Ranger eye mask and bright scarf. He probably has on a hat, plus some boots and spurs. Next to him is my other brother, the Ghost, with arm holes cut out, and flour worked into his hair and face, with his eyes highlighted with eye makeup. Once again, I go with the Native American theme. Note the old feed sack that Mom made into my "dress." My dad bought feed at the local general store for his farm animals; one of these sacks became my dress shown here. A totem pole charm hangs on the chain around my neck. Tuck a feather from the farm into my headband, braid my hair, and I'm ready! My youngest brother is dressed up as a "hobo," with the patches (a la Mom!) attached to his shirt, bag of belongings tied up on a stick, and coffee grounds put on his face to make a scraggly beard--with lotion to hold them on.

Me as a Geisha girl and my brother as the Incredible Hulk. Think he could use some more green on his chest and arms? | Source

A Few More Creative Homemade Costumes

A few years later, my mom helped one of my brothers and me come up with another Halloween costume. I had a Kimona that someone had given my mom, so I put that on and my mom did the hair and makeup to become...an Asian girl? My brother may have lacked the green chest, but at least the green face made him “The Incredible Hulk.”

Extravagance has become a part of many Americans' lifestyles, athough the economy of the last few years has forced people to be tighter with their money. This is when creativity and frugality come in handy, as did my mother’s hand in our Halloween costumes when I was a child. Try to be as impressive as she was in coming up with unique costumes!

To be extremely frugal, frugality has to be a lifestyle. Besides frugal and thrifty living, you have to cut things out of your budget and sacrifice. There are also ways to make extra money to add to your budget....

Comments 21 comments

Hey, Victoria Lynn, thanks for the memories! I was an 80s vampire for years and wish I could dig up my photograph. It's somewhere. I wore a cheap white, floor length gown at the time and went to work with the fake blood from the Halloween store. I used to drive down the freeway in my costume during the day. Was lucky I didn't cause any accidents, but I got plenty of stares and double takes! I used to have big hair in a short, curly perm and always picked it with an Afro pick. Ah, youth! And fun, fun, fun! Voted up and all the other keys I hit. I did show up on Halloween in the the welding suit that belonged to the ex, but that welding helmet made me feel like I had a fishbowl stuck on my head. Being a vampire before vampires were common was way too cool for me.

kikalina 5 years ago from Europe

These pictures reminded me of the costumes I used to wear as a child. I really need to dig up the photo album.

Victoria Lynn 5 years ago from Arkansas, USA Author

Arlene, you're welcome. You're funny. Vampires are great, and the welding helmet--well, that must have been a sight. Thanks for all the votes. Glad I brought back memories for you--did up that picture!

kikaline--Dig up the photo album. You'll have a great time. I sure did! Thanks for reading.

drbj 5 years ago from south Florida

Victoria - Your mom and dad look terrific as cross dressers. Particularly love your mother's creativity in fashioning her beard and moustache. What a hoot she is! Thanks for sharing these great photos.

Victoria Lynn 5 years ago from Arkansas, USA Author

Thanks, drbj. My mom IS very creative--and a hoot! Thanks for the comments!

Movie Master 5 years ago from United Kingdom

Hi Victoria, homemade costumes are great! I don't think an expensive hired costume is nearly so much fun!

Your photos are just wonderful, what great memories.

Thank you for sharing, best wishes MM

Victoria Lynn 5 years ago from Arkansas, USA Author

Thanks, Movie Master. I agree that homemade costumes are much more fun!!

A.CreativeThinker 5 years ago

These homemade costumes are very creative Victoria Lynn. It brings me back to the many costumes I've made my son and how much more fun it is when you do. The photos are great. Brings back many memories. Thanks for sharing yours.

Victoria, this is a useful hub. I love the homemade costumer. Well written and voted up.

sweethearts2 5 years ago from Northwest Indiana

The best memories come from the times when families spent time together. Halloween was always a great time spent in helping and being with each other. It was hours of fun (getting ready) before more hours of fun spent with family,neighbors and friends. I also loved the imagination my mother had for putting costumes together. Thanks for sharing (and bringing back) memories. Love the pictures.

Thanks, sweethearts2. I, too, have some great Halloween memories, as evident by those pictures! And, boy, growing up in a small town where we knew everybody really made it fun. We got enough candy to last for months!

Cloverleaf 5 years ago from Calgary, AB, Canada

Hi Victoria Lynn! Thanks for sharing these priceless memories. The drawn on moustache was always a hit as I remember :) Voted up & awesome.

Victoria Lynn 5 years ago from Arkansas, USA Author

Thanks, Cloverleaf. I appreciate the votes. Always good to see you!

ClassicMovieFan 4 years ago

Wow, I actually remember that....just barely. Great hub!

Victoria Lynn 4 years ago from Arkansas, USA Author

LOL! ClassicMovieFan--I'm glad you kind of remember. It was a hoot! :-) Thanks!

mr-veg 3 years ago from Colorado United States

Nice and beautiful ideas :) Greatly put together.. Great work !!

Victoria Lynn 3 years ago from Arkansas, USA Author

Thanks MrVeg. I appreciate your compliments!

Crystal Tatum 3 years ago from Georgia

Haha - I love that your mom actually attached hair to her chest! I desperately want to dress up for Halloween, but I'm not looking to spend money on a costume. I'll have to put some thought into a creative homemade costumer. Voting up and awesome.

Victoria Lynn 3 years ago from Arkansas, USA Author

Crystal, my mom is cool like that! Yeah, there are many cheap costumes we can make ourselves!